PCC candidate vows to abolish 'money-wasting' post he is standing for
The Lib Dem candidate for police and crime commissioner has vowed to immediately abolish the "money-wasting" post if he is elected.
Perry Barr councillor Jon Hunt says he is standing in May's election for a position he wants to get rid of, which costs taxpayers £2.6 million each year to run.
He says the bulk of the cash is wasted on bureaucracy when it should be spent on putting more bobbies on the beat, and called for a revival of neighbourhood policing.
The role of PCC has proved controversial since it was brought in 2012 to replace police authorities.
In the West Midlands, Labour incumbent David Jamieson has been widely accused of politicising the position, and has also faced criticism for closing down dozens of police stations and bases while spending more than £30m refurbishing his offices.
Mr Hunt, who leads the Lib Dem group on Birmingham Council, said: "I've been through the West Midlands police commissioner accounts and it is clear that large sums are being spent on bureaucracy that should be spent on front-line policing.
"It's great news that more police are on the way but they must be deployed in our communities, reviving neighbourhood policing which is all but deceased.
"As a local councillor I have seen first-hand the impact of the disappearance of the police from our communities.
"The police have become more distant and the gangs are able to recruit young people unfettered. This has to end."
Mr Hunt has been a councillor since 2003 and was previously vice-chair of the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority.
The Lib Dems plan to absorb the PCC post into the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) as a directly elected deputy mayor, in a similar way to how the system operates in Manchester and London.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street attempted the same move last year, but was voted down by Labour council leaders on the WMCA.
The PCC's office has a budget of £2.6m, of which around £1.5m is spent on administration. The remainder is handed out in grants.
In May's election Jay Singh-Sohal is the Conservative candidate, while Simon Foster is standing for Labour in place of Mr Jamieson, who is standing down.
